Memorable Games 3-4 Features Wins of VMI and Furman

MIke Tolbert ushed for a school-record 244 yards, including a school and Big South-record 86-yard touchdown run.

Nov. 4, 2011

CONWAY -

Coastal Carolina has been counting down its top 10 Most Memorable games, as voted upon by the fans, as the Chanticleers host Presbyterian this Saturday (Nov. 5) at 6 pm for the program’s 100th game.

The top two games, according to the fans, will be revealed Saturday at Brooks Stadium, as well as on www.GoCCUSports.com.

Memorable Game #10 — Nov. 13, 2010: Coastal Carolina’s Title Hopes Get Big BoostWinners of two straight, Coastal hosted 11th-ranked Liberty in a must-win game if the Chants were looking to reclaim their spot as the Big South’s best. Zach MacDowall, who threw for a school-record 383 yards versus Liberty in 2008, accounted for four scores and tied his single-game passing yards record to lead Coastal Carolina to a 45-31 win over the Flames. Matt Hazel also tied a school record, catching three TDs passes in a game. Overall, Coastal rolled up 541 yards of total offense, thanks to Eric O’Neal’s 102 rushing yards.

Memorable Game #9 — Nov. 20, 2004: Coastal Carolina Wins Big South Title OutrightCoastal Carolina became the first school in Big South history to win 10 games in a season and finished its league schedule with a perfect 4-0 mark, defeating Charleston Southern, 56-28, for the program’s first Big South Conference Championship. The Chanticleers rushed for 412 yards, thanks to 195 by Patrick Hall and 116 by Ren McKinnon.

Memorable Game #8 — Nov. 25, 2006: Coastal Carolina Becomes First Big South School to Reach NCAA PlayoffsCoastal Carolina became the first school in Big South history to reach the NCAA Playoffs, earning the league’s first and only at-large bid. The 12th-ranked Chanticleers would have to travel to Appalachian State, the top seed and nation’s top-ranked team. Tyler Thigpen threw for 351 yards and Jerome Simpson had 132 receiving yards, but CCU fell 45-28.

Memorable Game #7 — Oct. 22, 2005: Coastal Carolina Wins Triple Overtime ThrillerLiberty scored with 32 seconds left to force overtime, but neither team scored in the first two extra periods. Coastal had the ball first in the third overtime and Aundres Perkins scored from five yards out. Per NCAA rules, the Chants went for two, but the pass failed for a 27-21 lead. Liberty had its turn and reached the CCU one before a false start backed the flames up. Facing third-and-goal, Coastal linebacker Anthony Steele put a big hit on Liberty’s QB Brock Farrel and Quinton Teal intercepted the pass in the end zone to preserve the six-point win.

Memorable Game #6 — Nov. 27, 2010: Coastal Carolina Hosts First NCAA Playoff Game in Big South HistoryBy winning the three-way tie-breaker, Coastal Carolina earned the Big South’s first automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs, and remained the only Big South school to reach the postseason. To take it one step further, Coastal Carolina would host the first round playoff contest. Dominique Davenport had two interceptions, including one for a score, but Coastal Carolina could not overcome five turnovers in scoring position and a missed field goal to drop a 17-10 decision to Western Illinois.

Memorable Game #5 — Nov. 20, 2010: Coastal Carolina Has Everything Go Right and Gets Share of Big South ChampionshipCoastal Carolina scored a school-record 70 points, holding Charleston Southern to three points, which proved key as the day progressed. First, the Chanticleers won and needed Liberty to beat Stony Brook, which it did, to create a three-way for first in the Big South. Keeping CSU to three points, while Liberty scored 54 points on Stony Brook, gave Coastal the automatic berth to the NCAA Playoffs, based on fewest points allowed on defense for the season. For the game itself, Zach MacDowall tied a Big South record and set a school mark with five touchdown passes, while rushing for one score. In addition to the offensive explosion, Coastal scored on an interception return by Tre Henderson and a punt return by Niccolo Mastromatteo, while needing to move eight yards in two plays to score a touchdown as Jeremy Height returned to the kickoff to start the second half 78 yards.

Memorable Game #4 — Nov. 27, 2007: Coastal Carolina Sees Mike Tolbert Have Legendary GameHaving rushed for 151 yards with an 80-yard TD run the year before at VMI, Mike Tolbert etched his name in Chanticleer folklore with an even better performance against the Keydets, leading Coastal to a 42-35 Homecoming win in Brooks Stadium. The Big South’s Offensive Player of the Week rushed for a school-record 244 yards (one yard shy of the league record), including a school and Big South-record 86-yard touchdown run with 2:51 left in the game for the game winner. Not to be outdone and with CCU trailing by seven, Arthur Sitton was named Big South Special Teams Player of the Week for his 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. On defense, Brandon Autry was tabbed Big South Defensive Player of the Week, getting 12 tackles and an interception with under a minute to go to seal the win.

Memorable Game #3 — Oct. 7, 2006: Coastal Carolina Plays Before Record Crowd – “Hail to the Chants” As if playing third-ranked Furman was not enough to fire-up Coastal Carolina, the Chanticleers would play inspired ball for two other reasons in the 29-27 win over the Paladins. First, a record crowd of 10,013 packed Brooks Stadium. Second, mother of head coach David Bennett – “Ma” Bennett – passed away in the days leading up to the game and her “Hail to the Chants” victory cry would be heard throughout the game. Down 27-21, Coastal blocked a Furman extra point and returned the ball for a two-point play. On the ensuing kickoff and facing fourth down with 5:41 left, Tyler Thigpen hit Jerome Simpson for an eight-yard touchdown pass, which proved to be the game winner.